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GOLF WAR DISGRACE

Boss of car giant Volkswagen admits less than half of UK vehicles caught in emissions scandal have been fixed

Transport minister John Hayes said the company’s inability to recognise its failures was 'little short of ridiculous'

Volkswagen

FEWER than half the UK vehicles caught in the Volkswagen emissions scandal have been fixed, the firm’s boss has said.

Around 470,000 of the 1.2million fitted with software to beat environmental tests have been dealt with, Paul Willis revealed.

 No compo . . . fewer than half the UK vehicles caught in the emissions scandal have been fixed
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No compo . . . fewer than half the UK vehicles caught in the emissions scandal have been fixedCredit: Volkswagon
 Scandal . . . around 470,000 cars fitted with software to beat emissions tests have been sorted
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Scandal . . . around 470,000 cars fitted with software to beat emissions tests have been sortedCredit: EPA

He told MPs on the Transport select committee that the rest should be completed by autumn.

In America, VW has agreed a £12.3billion settlement.

But its UK boss said the firm in Europe did nothing wrong.

 'No legal basis' . . . VW has agreed a £12.3billion settlement in America
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'No legal basis' . . . VW has agreed a £12.3billion settlement in AmericaCredit: Volkswagon

He said there was “no legal basis” for compensation as there was “no degradation” to vehicles.

He added: "At no time were any vehicles sold to anyone in Europe based on nitrogen oxide levels."

Of the 1.2million UK vehicles affected by the crisis, there were 508,276 Volkswagen cars, 393,450 Audis, 131,569 Skodas, 79,838 VW commercial vehicles and 76,773 Seats.

Transport minister John Hayes said the company’s inability to recognise its failures was “little short of ridiculous”.

 Bad behaviour . . . Transport minister John Hayes slams company for failure to deal with complaints
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Bad behaviour . . . Transport minister John Hayes slams company for failure to deal with complaints
 Failure to launch . . . UK boss said the firm in Europe did 'nothing wrong'
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Failure to launch . . . UK boss said the firm in Europe did 'nothing wrong'Credit: Alamy

He told MPs: "I think Volkswagen acted extremely badly.

"I think it is extraordinary in their evidence earlier they seemed to be uncertain about whether they had behaved badly or not yet when this scandal first broke their tone was a very different one."

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